Whether they made the trek to Gainesville to cheer the team on in person, or got together with fellow alumni thousands of miles from Florida, ’Canes fans were united in their anticipation of the new football season.
Nearly 400 alumni and friends of the U packed a pre-game tailgate celebration in Gainesville on the last day of August, prior to the team taking the field against their old rival, the University of Florida Gators.
Acting President Joe Echevarria, Vice President and Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich, and Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Alumni Engagement Pat Whitely all greeted the crowd, thanking them for their steadfast support and looking ahead to the University's centennial year, not to mention an exciting football season. Sebastian, the Band of the Hour, and the ’Canes cheerleaders added to the festive atmosphere.
Elsewhere, hundreds more alumni and fans gathered for game watch parties in a dozen ’Canes Communities from coast to coast. ’Canes in Atlanta, Broward, Dallas, Denver, Miami, New York City, Orlando, Palm Beach, San Francisco, Sarasota, Tampa, and Washington D.C. decked themselves in orange and green and enjoyed a day in which it was great to be a Miami Hurricane.
’Canes fans on that August day weren't disappointed: the Hurricanes dominated the Gators, 41-17, and have since added victories against Florida A&M and Ball State to continue their perfect start to the season.
Blast from the Past: Miami vs. Florida
“Miami Moves Into ‘Big Time’” reads the banner headline in the October 20, 1938 issue of The Miami Hurricane student newspaper. The occasion: the first football game between the University of Miami and the University of Florida, which took place five days earlier at Florida Field, later known as The Swamp, in Gainesville.
An estimated 3,500 ’Canes faithful made the trek from Miami “by car, special train, or thumb,” as an account in the 1939 Ibis yearbook put it, to cheer on the team. Their efforts were rewarded as the Hurricanes, led by team captain, running back, and future UM Sports Hall of Famer Eddie Dunn, came from behind to win 19-7.
Nearly nine decades later, ’Canes alumni and friends from near and far gathered in Gainesville and in ’Canes Communities from coast to coast to revel in the exploits of quarterback Cam Ward and his teammates.
